Legendary WWII warbirds at Monterey airport

MONTEREY >> When he was a kid, Cliff Atkins had Revell models of every warbird the Allied Forces flew during World War II, meticulously assembled with — what else? — airplane glue, many of them suspended from his bedroom ceiling with fishing line.

"So I feel like I've come full circle," said the Birmingham, Alabama, native after landing the legendary P-51 Mustang fighter Wednesday at Monterey Regional Airport. "My father was a pilot, the P-51 Mustang was his favorite airplane, and I grew up with an adoration of warbirds."

Atkins, 35, nowadays is a professional pilot for the Collings Foundation, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization dedicated to "preserving living aviation history," some of which will be on display through noon on Friday on the tarmacs of the Monterey Jet Center, 300 Sky Park Drive.

Showcased with the Mustang as part of Collings' Wings of Freedom Tour are the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine O Nine," the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft," and the B-25 Mitchell "Tondelayo" — all bombers.

Atkins flies them all for Collings — a dream job — but the Mustang holds a special place in his heart.

"I fly for a living and I've got a lot of warbird experience, but the Mustang is considered one of the A-List airplanes, so it's truly a treat — a real feather in your cap, not only to be turned loose in one of these, but also to be able to fly for Collings," he said. "We fly so much that you really get the opportunity to become pretty conversant with the airplanes. We don't just fly an hour a month, we fly five to seven hours a day, which is a lot for a Mustang. It really allows you to become so familiar with the airplane that most people — even owners — don't really get that opportunity."

The airplane Atkins flew to Monterey from Santa Barbara (air time: 45 minutes) on Wednesday was originally delivered to England in 1943, but promptly crashed and was spent the rest of the war on the sidelines.

But eventually it was purchased and restored — a process that was completed in 2004. When airborne, it flies like a brand-new aircraft, Atkins says.

"No question, it's a time capsule," he said. "This airplane flies today exactly the same way it flew during the war."

The heroic attributes of the P-51 were highlighted by a 500-gallon fuel tank that enabled the plane to fly round-trip and nonstop to Berlin from anywhere in England, a feature that allowed the Mustang to escort Allied bombers deep into Germany and protect them from attack.

"Until the Mustang came along, our bombers had to go halfway to the target without any help. They were like flying turkeys," Atkins said. "The P-51 enabled our bombers to strike the Nazi leadership deep in Germany, which previously couldn't be done."

The Mustang can fly in excess of 500 mph and is rated for an altitude of 41,000 feet — better than some commercial airliners. But it also handles spectacularly, Atkins said.

"This airplane is a fighter in every respect," he said. "Seventy years ago, this was the premier aircraft on Planet Earth, and it really was the airplane that changed the shape of the war for the Allies, Especially in Europe.

"It never disappoints," Atkins added. "It stands at attention if you ever kick it in the pants. It'll do whatever you want it to do. If you want to be nice with it, it'll be nice. If you want to get nasty, it'll do that, too."

The other feature, Atkins said, is the durability of the P-51 Mustang.

"They're literally built like tanks," Atkins said. "You can stand on the wing, walk all the way out to the wing tip, and jump up and down. It's made for it."

The Mustang and all three bombers will be available for tours ($12 for adults, $6 for children under 12) and 30- to 60-minute flights (prices vary) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday. Call 800-568-8924 for reservations.